Attachable Beverage Niche Cooperates for a System to manage Food and Drink

ABSTRACT

This invention is an inexpensive beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink. Provided as a separate entity for attachment, this is a new concept. Affixed to a food tray or paper food boat, it helps secure a beverage container such as a beer tasting glass from sliding, tipping, and contacting with food also carried on the tray. The invention&#39;s attachable beverage niche facilitates carrying food and drink in one hand, while releasing the other hand from any obligation to continuously hold a drink container.

Inventors: Beyer, Andrea Elgin, Beyer, Steven Larsen (Staten Island, NY) Applicant: Name City State Country Beyer, Andrea Elgin Staten Island NY United States of America Beyer, Steven Larsen Staten Island NY United States of America Current U.S. Class: D7/505; D7/553.4; D7/553.6; D7/553.8; 206/518; 206/562; 206/564; 220/574; 220/575; 229/407

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Improvements to portable food serving platforms such as trays have evolved over time as seen in the following references. Devices therein revealed were created to provide enhanced experiences during episodes of food and beverage consumption. Benefits included improved accessibility and stability of consumable items, reduced weight and compactness, as well as convenience when manipulating food, beverage and serving platforms. Devices described are in the main self-contained combinations of innovative aspects, presumably available to consumers as complete units.

Although prior art discloses examples of food serving trays comprising circular cup holding elements, little consideration is seen for providing enhanced stability on commercially available trays for non-standard sized beverage containers that for convenience consumers may wish to carry on their trays along with food. Such containers include relatively small diameter glassware often used during food and/or beverage evaluation events such as beer tastings.

Despite prior art teachings, there appears to be a dearth of commercially available food serving trays featuring integral beverage container receptacles for standard soda and beer can size, and internet search revealed none designed to provide combined food compartment space along with dedicated provision for stabilization of rather diminutive sized beverage containers often provided for participants at beer tasting events. Such occasions involve consumption and comparison of multiple doses of assorted products, activity which favors use of relatively small beverage containers for economy, and mitigation of premature curtailment of individual beer tasting activity due to sampling unnecessarily large doses of beer.

Although there are advantages inherent in providing food trays with integrated beverage container stabilization elements, market surveys indicate few if any commercially viable products featuring such a combination of elements. While there are many examples of food trays, paper food boats, and stand alone cup holder platforms for sale, it is difficult to find dedicated combinations of those very useful elements.

Manufactures may fear such a dedicated combined product represents a specialization not commercially viable, in part due to several of the following issues. For example, some consumers may prefer to place beverage containers on a table or ledge while holding food trays on their laps; others may not find it difficult to carry their tray in one hand and a beverage in the other as they walk, stand, and/or talk. In addition, various sized beverage containers may be available at a particular event. These and other reasons may well cause manufacturers to avoid producing one size fits all food tray/beverage container holder combinations.

The presently disclosed invention provides a solution to this issue.

REFERENCES CITED U.S. Patent Documents

U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,296, to Farrell, Oct. 30, 1990

D311,662, to Lorenzana, et al., Oct. 30, 1990

U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,125, to Roberts, Aug. 10, 1993 U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,787, to Finchum, et al., Aug. 9, 1994 U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,231, to McSpadden, Jul. 4, 1995 U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,694, to Tanaka, et al., Oct. 21, 1997 U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,139, to Bradley, Oct. 26, 1999 U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,418, to Rathjen, May 16, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,580, to Stern et al., Aug. 29, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,232, to Williams, Oct. 10, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,836 B1, to Hofheins et al., Nov. 25, 2003 U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,399, to Zox, May 6, 2014 U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,515 B2, to Kohl et al., Nov. 4, 2014 U.S. Pat. No. 8,889, to Veltrop et al., Dec. 2, 2014 U.S. Pat. No. 8,960,480 B2, to Clark, Feb. 24, 2015 U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,609,B2 to Peltier, Mar. 31, 2015 U.S. Pat. No. 9,603,475, to Faulk, Mar. 28, 2017

D801,120, to Zeien, Oct. 31, 2017 D860,781 S, to Exner, Sep. 24, 2019

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,296, to Farrell, Oct. 30, 1990 teaches an integrated food tray with individual food containers for heating and cooling foods.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. D311,662, to Lorenzana, et al, Oct. 30, 1990, teaches a food tray with cup holder. An ornamental design for a food tray with cup holder is claimed. Said food tray presents a relatively large irregularly shaped containment section and a significantly smaller circular area.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,125, to Roberts, Aug. 10, 1993, teaches a food plate with beverage container holder. Said food plate contains openings and separate portions having varied relative diameters, separated by ridges.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,787, to Finchum, et al., Aug. 9, 1994, teaches a food and beverage tray with two main sections separated by raised margins. The larger of these areas is of irregular shape, and the lesser individual space division contains a round area designed to fit the bottom of a beverage can or cup. The preferred embodiment describes a cup support wall is tapered from the vertical by about 7 degrees of arc to help stabilize the beverage container on the tray. The depth of said beverage container recess beneath a surrounding raised region of the tray is described as being minimized to a preferred difference of 0.030 inches, said to be sufficient to stabilize a beverage container on the tray. The beverage container recess includes a raised central disk, said to function in cooperation with the indented base of beverage container.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,231, to McSpadden, Jul. 4, 1995, teaches a portable food tray with cup holder. Said tray includes a raised cup holder section within the compass of the general tray surface and its raised periphery. The profile of said disclosure teaches a curving structure providing means for grasp the tray by clenching its undersurface portion surrounding an indented cup holder. Said cup holder is claimed to exceed about 1.50 inches in axial dimension. A plurality of irregularly shaped food areas is illustrated.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,694, to Tanaka, et al., Oct. 21, 1997, teaches a food and beverage tray. Said tray contains a plurality of food sections and a beverage section. The invention is perforated by apertures providing means for insert fingers, thereby providing enhanced ability to grasp a beverage container.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,139, to Bradley, Oct. 26, 1999, teaches a food and beverage tray having a circular plate area, a round cup holder which also provides support for the tray, a hand grip, and a pair of additional supports.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,418, to Rathjen, May 16, 2000, teaches a combination food plate and beverage container holder article. Said invention claims a plate body having an encompassing upstanding lip and an inverted, truncated cone the lower end of which is greater in diameter than its upper open end. Said cone extending sufficiently above than the invention's lip to facilitate it being grasped and thereby used to transport the plate, while additionally providing means for receive a beverage container

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,580, to Stern et al., Aug. 29, 2000, teaches a food and beverage tray supportable by a cup holder. Said tray comprising a tray body with a recess for holding food, supported by a plurality of downward extending members. The invention also comprising a central cup receptacle extending downward below the lower edge of the tray, providing means for alternately fit within an automobile cup holder or serve as an independent support member. Said invention is claimed to be capable of providing a plurality of cup receptacles and a plurality of support members.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,232, to Williams, Oct. 10, 2000, teaches a food and beverage tray comprising an interior compartment including beverage retention well, a lid that includes a second opening for holding a beverage container. Said lid beverage container is positioned so as to nest in the beverage retention well of the tray when the lid is closed.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,836, to Hofheins et al., Nov. 25, 2003, teaches a hand-held plate for holding a beverage container and food. Said hand-held plate comprises a raised rim, a food receptacle portion, and a perforation encompassed by a plurality of flexible container engagement flaps. Said flaps claimed to provide means for engaging a beverage container, thereby securing it at a fixed location in a stable manner.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,399, to Zox, May 6, 2014, teaches a cocktail plate with an indented circumference providing a space for holding both the plate and a drinking cup simultaneously.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,515, to Kohl et al., Nov. 4, 2014, teaches a System and method for customizing a food tray. A plurality of sub-components are claimed. Said sub-components providing means for selectively define and arrange the food holding areas and configuration of members which said food tray encompasses. No provision is claimed for a beverage container holder.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,889, to Veltrop et el., Dec. 2, 2014, teaches a multi-level compartmentalized insert for a food holding cabinet.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,960,480 B2, to Clark, Feb. 24, 2015, teaches a clamshell food tray with cup-based latch. Cup containing spaces in both top and bottom tray components.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,609,B2 to Peltier, Mar. 31, 2015, teaches a tray for carrying a plurality of flasks. The flasks are arrayed in a series of rails stationed on the tray surface.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 9,603,475, to Faulk, Mar. 28, 2017, teaches a food tray cup holder. A cup holder is claimed that provides means for be mounted on a food tray, with said cup holder containing a plurality of apertures having adjustable tabs for holding different sized beverage cups.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. D801, 120, to Zeien, Oct. 31, 2017, teaches a food tray with an integral cup holder. Said food tray is oval in shape, encompassing a single food containment zone, adjacent to a circular component that provides means for station a cup.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. D860, 781 S, to Exner, Sep. 24, 2019, teaches a carton system, said carton system comprising a set of two relatively small cartons capable of being mounted upon a single larger carton.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Potential problems of prior art discouraging commercial production of dedicated food container/beverage container holder combinations are solved by the presently disclosed invention.

The invention includes an attachable beverage niche, comprising a structural system applicable to a cooperating surface such as a food tray or other food carrying device, for example a paper food “boat”, or conventional plate. The invention thereby providing means for enhancing stabilization of beverage containers placed and carried on such food platforms. The attachable beverage niche of the present invention is provided in a variety of sizes and alternate means of attachment to cooperating surfaces. For example, an appropriate size of attachable beverage niche would be available for participants at an event featuring sampling, comparing, and evaluating beverages and/or foods, where comparatively small glassware is also provided. Those selected niches could then easily be attached to a standard food tray or food boat should the consumers desire enhanced stabilization for their beverage container.

Application of the attachable beverage niche to a tray reduces tendencies for a beverage container such as a beer tasting glass to slide or tip, while additionally shielding the beverage container from messy contact with food items also on the tray. Food and drink can then be supported and carried in one hand, leaving the other hand free for utensil use and periodic raising of the beverage container for imbibing its contents.

Attachable beverage niches of the present invention may be produced in a variety of compositions, models, shapes and sizes, enabling consumers to match them with available beverage containers, apply them to commercial food trays, thereby providing means for stabilizing said beverage containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

SHEET 1/4

FIG. 1—perspective view of attachable beverage niche with connective element and connective element seal at its base

FIG. 2—perspective view of attachable beverage niches in a nested stack

FIG. 3—perspective view of attachable beverage niche affixed to a food tray thereby stabilizing a beverage container

SHEET 2/4

FIG. 4—top view of attachable beverage niche affixed to a food tray

SHEET 3/4

FIG. 5—side view of beverage container

FIG. 6—side view of attachable beverage niche affixed within a food tray

FIG. 7—end view of attachable beverage niche affixed within a food tray

SHEET 4/4

FIG. 8—perspective view of attachable beverage niche with base tabs

FIG. 9—perspective view nested stack of attachable beverage niches with base tabs

FIG. 10—end view of paper food boat

FIG. 11—side view of a paper food boat

FIG. 12—perspective view of attachable beverage niche with base tabs affixed on a paper food boat stabilizing a beverage container

ELEMENTS

-   1. Attachable Beverage Niche -   2. Connective Element -   3. Connective Element Seal -   4. Food Tray -   5. Beverage Container -   6. Paper Food Boat -   7. Attachable Beverage Niche with Base Tabs -   8. Base Tab

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following description provides specific examples, these are not intended in any way to limit application and uses of the invention. There is no intention to be bound by any concept described in the preceding background, summary, or in what follows as the detailed description. It is understood that changes may be made in the way elements of the embodiments described herein operate, may be arranged, or may be applied without compromising the invention's scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

The combination of improvements in the present embodiment of this invention is also applicable for use in other forms and analogous structures. The disclosed set of elements comprises an assembly and configuration specifically suited to circumstances associated with food and beverage consumption, and are not taught in prior art of attachable beverage niche construction.

The attachable beverage niche in a featured embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a truncated cone having means for self-connection to a surface, for example containers such as food trays or paper food boats having a capacity for holding and transporting food.

The attachable beverage niche of the present invention may be constructed with a variety of material compositions including inorganic fiber, paper, and other organic materials, bio-degradable substances, metal, plastic, or alternate substances that may become available. Embodiments may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. Methods of manufacturing elements of said invention may be by means of molding, extrusion, stamping, or any other operation deemed appropriate given current state of the art.

In one particular embodiment seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, beverage niche 1 cooperates with a form of connective element 2 thereby facilitating means for attachment to an embodiment of food tray 4. In this manifestation of connective element 2, glue is pre-applied to the circumferential base of beverage niche 1. Connective element 2 is rendered inoperable as means for attachment until connective element seal 3 is peeled away from the lower surface of connective element 2, prior to attachment of attachable beverage niche 1 to food tray 4. In an alternate embodiment connective element 2 is provided on a plurality of base tabs 8 integrated with attachable beverage niche with base tabs 8, providing means for attachment to either food tray 4 or an alternate form of a food carrying platform such as paper food boat 6, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

Attachable beverage niches can be produced substantially in the form of truncated cones or cylinders then sold individually FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, or in nested stack packages holding multiple units FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. Via either offering, the invention is suitable for attachment to food carrying platforms such as trays or food boats provided by individual users or by organizers of events such as beer tastings or picnics where many participants are provided with options to use the invention. Fitted with dedicated adhesive connective elements secured by peel-away connective element seals 3 until their application to a tray, niches may be packaged, transported, and sold in the form of nested stacks FIG. 2 and FIG. 9.

A range of attachable beverage niche 1 embodiments may be provided, having dimensions respectively appropriate for fitting within their compass various forms of beverage container 5, including varieties of beer and soda cans, plastic water bottles, and examples of the relatively small glassware and cups typically used at tasting events including gatherings featuring beer and food pairings. An example of cooperating food tray 4 may include a plurality of compartments. In one such embodiment seen in FIG. 3, a relatively low profile attachable beverage niche 1 is situated on a corner section of food tray 4, separated from other food tray compartments.

In an exemplary embodiment, to properly cooperate with beverage container 5, in this case having dimensions in the range of vessels commonly used during beverage tasting events, said attachable beverage niche 1 has an appropriate internal diameter so as to provide means for securing a snug fit with beverage container 5. FIG. 3 shows such an attachable beverage niche 1 fixed to an example of food tray 4. And FIG. 12 presents a view of the attachable beverage niche with base tab 7 connected to paper food boat 6. In this latter example a plurality of base tabs 8, each joined with a connective element 2, are components of attachable beverage niche with tabs 7; providing means for providing additional surface to apply connective element 2. Use of said base tabs 8 or alternate equivalent structures are selectively available, if desired, on other embodiments of the invention.

Efficiencies in manufacture encourage embodiments of this invention to be commercially available for low-cost discretionary attachment to food containers currently on the market, including various types of trays and food boats. In the style of inexpensive coffee “sleeves”, the present invention's attachable beverage niche system provides a useful, low-cost adjunct to events involving informal consumption of food and beverages.

Modifications

While an exemplary embodiment and alternate embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention; and the associated claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, provision would be made for a beverage niche having a cross-sectional profile other than circular, such as square, elliptical, or hexagonal. In other examples, number, configurations, and dimensions of the plurality of elements may vary.

Ramifications and Scope

The words “inner”, “outer”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, base, and similar expressions are to be interpreted as relative to embodiments discussed, and cooperating components of the invention, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.

Embodiments described herein are included for example only. Additional variations of the claimed invention's concepts will be obvious to those skilled in the art, such as adaptation or inclusion of alternative materials.

Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the present embodiments of this invention. Dimensions of elements, their number, and arrangements within its total composition, as well as variations of lengths and connection positions may be specified by one skilled in the art according to desired usage.

Although our disclosed system functions in cooperation with several components seen in the prior art, it does not necessarily require all of these.

The description of the present invention has been made for purposes of revealing particularly useful embodiments. It is not intended to limit the invention to only the disclosed form. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

We claim:
 1. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink, wherein said attachable beverage niche possesses a horizontal cross-sectional profile providing means for encompassing and cooperating with a beverage container and subsequently providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said beverage niche is attached to a horizontal surface and said beverage container is inserted within said attachable beverage niche.
 2. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 1, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching and functionally cooperating said beverage niche with a horizontal surface.
 3. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 2, further comprising: a horizontal surface which is part of a structure, for example a food tray or paper food boat, said structure providing means for containing and transporting food.
 4. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with a beverage container, thereby additionally providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said beverage niche is secured to a horizontal surface.
 5. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 4, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching, securing, and functionally integrating said beverage niche with a surface.
 6. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 5, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with beverage containers essentially similar in size to vessels of the type commonly known as tasting glasses, thereby additionally providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said attachable beverage niche is secured to a surface platform such as a food tray or an example of what is commonly known as a paper food boat; attachment of said beverage container is attained by means of cooperation with a connective element, glue for example, which is rendered operable by action means such as removal of a protective seal or chemical interaction, initiated prior to application of attachable beverage container to said horizontal surface.
 7. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 6, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a maximum internal horizontal diameter of 2.25 inches (5.72 cm) providing means for proximately encompassing said beverage containers commonly known as tasting glasses.
 8. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of said attachable beverage niches each having individual association with an adhesive connective element having potential for providing means for attachment of said attachable beverage niche to a tray subsequent to when said plurality of beverage niches are collectively stacked and packaged.
 9. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with a beverage container such as the type generically known as a tasting glass, thereby providing means for enhancing the stability of said tasting vessel as said attachable beverage niche is secured to a horizontal surface such as the base of a food tray or paper food boat; said attachable beverage niche with a substantially ring-like shape, generally in the form of a truncated cylinder or hollow cone, whose complete array of cross-sectional profiles may represent various shapes and sizes.
 10. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 9, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching and functionally integrating said attachable beverage niche with said horizontal surface; said connective element comprising an adhesive.
 11. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 10, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche with a plurality of extended elements at its lower periphery, for example base tabs, providing means for facilitating connection and securing of said attachable beverage niche to said horizontal surface.
 12. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 11, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having height measured vertically from its base, where said attachable beverage niche adjoins said horizontal surface, greater than 0.1 inch (c. 2.54 mm), providing means for enhancing the stabilization of said beverage container.
 13. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 12, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having sides canted outwardly from vertical at an angle greater that one degree of arc, as said sides rise from the base of said beverage niche, providing means for facilitating the insertion of said beverage container into said attachable beverage niche.
 14. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of beverage niches, providing means for enhancing stabilization of a plurality of tasting vessels.
 15. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 14, further comprising: said beverage niche having a horizontal profile at its base with a maximum internal diameter of 2.25 inches (c. 5.72 cm). 